FOODFORTHOUGHT

Peter's Story

I was a mere fisherman named Simon. Then I met Jesus, He changed my name. 

He called me Peter, the rock.  He changed me; I was a new person, I'll never be the same.

I knew right away there was something very special about Jesus and I will admit;

I was in awe of everything about Him,  His knowledge..His wisdom..and His clever wit. 

He called me and my brother Andrew to follow Him,  for reasons that were unclear; 

But we immediately left everything behind to go without hesitation or fear.

We didn't know it then but it was actually Him that chose us, we didn't know why.

Me...I was nothing special.... I was an impulsive, outspoken and a strong-willed guy.

We were part of His inner circle of twelve; we were with Him night and day.

He taught us the truth about God and Heaven; He also taught us how to pray.

We were known as the apostles,  it was such an honor and privilege we had. 

We saw how Jesus loved, we saw what saddened Him and what made Him mad.

We followed Him everywhere He went and miraculously we were all well fed. 

Most importantly our hearts, minds and souls were filled by all that He said.

We saw Him walk on water, and when He told me to come, I walked on water, too.

It was incredible until I took my eyes off Him and started sinking, it was unbelievable but true.

Jesus did amazing things we'd never seen before and did not understand.

We witnessed Him performing miracles with just the touch of His hand.

He could control all of nature even the wind and the seas.

We saw Him cure many ailments and He could heal any disease.

He miraculously fed thousands with just a few fish and a little bread. 

We saw him bring people back to life after they were definitely dead.

He made lame people walk and He gave sight to those who were blind.

Jesus knew everything about people, He could even know the thoughts in your mind.

When He told me I would be the one to build His church, I couldn't believe what I heard.  

I was so excited and honored, I wanted to rush out and start spreading the word. 

He wanted to tell us about things that were to come for it was what God had planned. 

So much of what He said just didn't make any sense to us, we could not understand.

The last night we were together,  He shocked us by humbly washing and drying all of our feet. 

Jesus demonstrated how we were to serve one another in love, it was powerful and bittersweet.

While we were gathered for our last supper, He told us the events to come were all part of God's  redemptive plan.  

Jesus tore a loaf of bread and said  "this is my body broken for you and the wine is my blood poured out as a sacrifice for the sins of man."  

He gave thanks to God and told us this was the new covenant and said  "do this in remembrance of me."

We were concerned and did not understand what all this meant,  but we did as He said faithfully.                                                                                                        

He told us they were going to kill Him, and He would be taken away from us on that very night. 

We didn't understand why He would allow the soldiers to arrest Him when we were willing to fight

He had the power to stop this and we could have fought the battle and would have won.

But He knew what He had to do to save us and said " Father not my will but yours be done. "

Jesus had told me I would deny knowing Him three times before hearing the rooster crow.

I was certain He was wrong, Not me I was totally devoted to Him,....this would not be so.     

I would do anything for Him,  I loved Him, He was God in the flesh ...and I knew it. 

I told Him I would die for Him but when I was faced with the challenge ......I blew it. 

My love and devotion to the Lord was great but suddenly my fear became greater. 

I was so weak in that moment, I denied even knowing Him, I felt like a traitor.

He looked at me with deep sadness, I felt so totally ashamed, I just wanted to die.

How could I betray my Lord whom I loved with all my heart with a cowardly lie?

Everything Jesus did was good and right, never once did he even tell a lie.

But they mocked him, they beat Him unmercifully, the nailed Him on a cross to die.

He did all that for us sinners,  He truly was God as a man to His his last dying breath. 

Then just as told us would happen, He arose back to life proving His power over death. 

They crucified Him, it was awful, there is no way He could possibly survive.

Yet we saw Him after that, He walked and talked with us and He was very much alive.

I betrayed Jesus but He loved me still. He questioned my love for Him even though He knew it was true.

And now I will live the rest of my life to do all that He has given me to do.

He told us to preach the gospel to all nations, we call it the great commission. 

Jesus has entrusted me to build His church and I am enthusiastic for this mission.

I will tell everyone, even if it costs me everything including my life, and this time I won't blow it. 

I will boldly testify about the power, the miracles and the love of Jesus because it is absolutely true and I know it.

There is so much we want to share about the amazing things we witnessed.

We want people to know about God, His love, His grace, and His forgiveness.

Now we understand that Jesus took our punishment to take away our sins in agonizing strife. 

He chose to do this so we could be reconciled with God and have everlasting life.

So now I'm out to tell the world about Jesus, because this is a cause worth dying for.

For He is truly the King of kings and He will rule over all now and forevermore.

Amen 

Written by Arlene Spanos 2020